10 Best Museums in D.C. You'll Want to Visit

It's one Washington, D.C.'s biggest draws: museums, an activity dismissed by (too) many as a snoozefest or a little tired. Our nation's capital, however, has mastered the art of creating tailored and intriguing explorations of art, history, and culture. Don't believe it? You’ll find temples dedicated to everything from the history and development of spycraft and space travel, alongside serious dives into modern art, African American history—even news media. Even better, most of them are free to enter. It's an experience you just can't miss when you're in town, so to get you started, here are our editor's picks for the best museums in Washington, D.C.

Steps away from the White House, on Pennsylvania Avenue, sits the first building in the United States that was specifically intended to become an art museum. This gorgeous 160-year-old building is home to the Renwick Gallery, a branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum dedicated to crafts and decorative arts. But don’t let the 19th-century architecture fool you into thinking that the Renwick is stuck in the past. Ever since it reopened after a 2015 renovation, the Renwick has hosted forward-thinking exhibitions from contemporary artists and artisans. Mind-bending, immersive shows are the main event at the Renwick.

It’s hard to imagine improving upon the grandeur of the historic National Mall, miles of greenery surrounded by world-class monuments and museums. But in September 2016, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture did just that. This new addition to an iconic landscape, The National Museum of African American History and Culture, houses artifacts, photography, and and other media that reflect African American culture and experiences. Here you’ll find Harriet Tubman’s personal hymnal and silk lace and linen shawl, a bill of a sale for a young enslaved girl, Louis Armstrong’s trumpet, photos capturing the participation of black women during the Civil Rights Movement, and a collection of costumes from The Wiz, the Tony Award–winning musical that made Broadway history with its African American–led cast and crew.

Nothing is off limits or expected at the Hirshhorn, whose vast permanent collection boasts a fine range of pioneering sculpture, digital media, photography, video, performance-based pieces, and more, all from 21st-century innovators. On our most recent visit, works selected from the permanent collection and a few new acquisitions comprised "What Absence Is Made Of," an exhibition highlighting how artists turn absence—or the threat of absence—into ideas about materialism, remembrance, and digitalization. Designed in a hollow drum that’s lifted 14 feet off the ground and surrounded by sculpture-filled gardens, the Hirshhorn is an ideal space for viewing contemporary art. Galleries follow the museum’s circular architecture across two upper floors; lower levels host more exhibition space, a gift shop, and a coffee-bar-slash-gelateria. Outside, a permanent set of sculpture can be viewed in the garden, which is popular during warm-weather months, and hosts regular events like live music.

Ever since it opened in 1976, the National Air and Space Museum has been one of the most visited museums in the world. The iconic museum, which has two locations, traces the evolution of flight from the first-ever airplane to the moon landing and beyond. The original building is part of the historic Smithsonian complex on the National Mall, while another facility—spacious enough for two airplane hanger-size galleries—opened in 2003 by Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia. Both centers are chockablock with awe-inspiring artifacts from mankind’s explorations of the final frontier. Have you always wanted to see the 1903 Wright Flyer, Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis, spacesuits worn by astronauts on the Apollo mission, or a real-life moon rock? Go to the D.C. museum. Meanwhile, a visit to the Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia will get you an up-close look at a supersonic Concorde, the Space Shuttle Discovery, and the Enola Gay, which dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.

The Newseum makes a bold and strikingly modern impression. Set on Pennsylvania Avenue between the U.S. Capitol Building and the White House, this museum declares to policymakers and tourists alike that it intends to protect and champion the role of a free press: the building’s glass facade bears a 75-foot tablet of pink marble etched with the words of the First Amendment. Filled with interactive and of-the-moment exhibits, the Newseum is for more than just news junkies. It explores the cultural and political conversations that have shaped the world as we know it. Exhibitions include a gallery of Pulitzer Prize–winning photographs, a section of the Berlin Wall accompanied by mixed media explaining the role the press played in tearing it down, virtual reality kiosks, and a 9/11 gallery that explores how journalists cover tragedies. The Newseum also encourages participation: interactive exhibits ask visitors to prepare front-page newspaper stories, simulate a TV newscast, and devise their own solutions to media-ethics questions.

In a city flush with stately—and historic—edifices, the National Building Museum, which is dedicated to architecture, engineering, and design, still manages to stand out. Built in the late 19th century as the headquarters of the United States Pension Bureau, the building was modeled after Roman palaces. Exhibitions explore a wide range of subjects: the secret U.S. cities that were erected with the development of the atom bomb; the lives of a low-income renters facing eviction; and the architectural innovations—such as tiny houses—that have evolved as America has changed. The best time to visit is in summer, when the Great Hall is transformed into an elaborate, immersive exhibition; say, a “beach” teeming with nearly one million plastic balls, a glacial sea of icebergs, or a 60-by-60-foot maze. Summer 2018 brings the Fun House, an interactive reimagining of the traditional home.

Occupying the better part of a Chinatown block and marked by a large neon sign that reads “Spy," the International Spy Museum isn't exactly clandestine. It is, however, is one-of-a-kind and therefore a must-stop for anyone new to town or just passing through. In this interactive—and cheeky—museum, you’ll start out by acquiring your very own spy identity before plunging into an exhibit that examines the history and tools of spycraft. Most impressive is the collection of seemingly everyday items that are more than what they appear to be, such as a lipstick pistol. The gift shop here breaks the mold with spy gadgets—a mug shaped like a briefcase, a car key that's also a mini camera, or a stealth flask for your smartphone. This is one of the most popular museums in the city, drawing in weekend visitors and Washingtonians of all ages. It’s a fun romp through the life of spies, so expect a lighthearted vibe.

Perched near the U.S. Capitol Building, the National Gallery of Art is one of the most impressive museums in the city. Founded by Andrew W. Mellon, the museum comprises two buildings: the West Building, modeled after the Roman Pantheon, and the East Building, designed by modernist architect I.M. Pei. On a nice day, you could hardly do better than a stroll through the museum’s Sculpture Garden, which hosts jazz concerts in summer and an ice rink in winter. It also has the most classic collection in the city, with a focus mainly on European and American paintings, sculpture, prints, photographs, and more. You’ll find a number of works from famed artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Johannes Vermeer, and Rembrandt, as well as later pieces from the likes of Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollock, and Roy Lichtenstein. The Sculpture Garden contains works by Marc Chagall and Joan Miró, as well as Robert Indiana's famous "AMOR."

Tucked amid the beautiful row houses of Dupont Circle is The Phillips Collection. The modern art museum was established in 1921 in a Georgian Revival house that once was the family home of the museum founder, Duncan Phillips. The setting is at once intimate and sophisticated, making it a favorite for Washingtonians. The modern art museum focuses on Impressionist and modern art, and outdoes itself on both accounts. The permanent collection boasts Renoir’s famous "Luncheon of the Boating Party," as well as works by Georgia O’Keefe, Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, and Richard Diebenkorn. And an intimate Rothko Room consists of a lone bench surrounded by four of the abstract expressionist's paintings.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is an important space for somber reflection. Set just off from the National Mall, this museum is a worthy stop for visitors, schools groups, and locals alike who wish to join the museum in ensuring that the horrors of the Holocaust can never happen again. The permanent exhibition here takes you on a chronological journey from the rise of the Nazi party to the ghettoization and mass murder of Jews and, finally, to their liberation following the Allied victory. Beyond the permanent exhibition, other exhibitions allow visitors to explore topics such as America’s role in the Holocaust or the atrocities currently taking place in Syria. Don't miss "Remember the Children: Daniel’s Story," which tells the story of The Holocaust through the eyes of a child; although the exhibition was originally designed for children, it has become a museum staple. And on certain mornings in the spring and summer, Holocaust survivors visit the museum to share their stories.